MINNEAPOLIS — Justin Grunewald admits it's been a struggle for ever since his wife, champion runner Gabriele Grunewald, passed away after a long battle with cancer in June.
"It’s been a long year. It’s been a horrible year, but it’s been a great year at the same time," Grunewald said. "I can never say was the worst year of my life because I got to spend 6 months and 11 days with the best friend and the love of my life."
He's also found hope in people experiencing similar struggles, and those who have reached out to him since his wife's death.
"It’s real and it’s hard, it’s really hard and sometimes just getting a bunch of messages being like, 'I’m really struggling and I needed to read that today,' it makes all the difference," he said.
Grunewald said Gabriele's own positive energy, even through her cancer fight, made her the best person he's ever known.
"I think she inspires everything I do," Grunewald said. "When you help people who are struggling it makes your struggle less and that’s kind of how she lived."
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As 2019 draws to a close, Grunewald is hoping to spread some of the hope that Gabe inspired. He's planning a special walk and run starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29 at Modist Brewing in Minneapolis; afterward, he plans to start a tab and buy beers at the brewery for anyone interested in joining him.
"Kind of an end of the year party for everyone who needs a little bit of hope in their life, everyone who’s struggling," Grunewald explained. "From 2 to 6 p.m. we’re going to celebrate hope, I guess, and people can talk if they want about the struggles they’ve gone through or the hope that’s inspired them."
Modist Brewing will also donate $1 from each beer to the Brave Like Gabe Foundation.
"I want to say it’s almost the end of the year, let’s spread some hope," Grunewald said. "What Gabriele left me with and the mantra that I go through in my head is that I struggle all the time, it’s okay to struggle. It’s not okay to give up."